Showtime picks up 'Homeland,' 'Masters of Sex' for new seasons

Lizzy Caplan as Virginia Johnson and Michael Sheen as Dr. William Masters in "Masters of Sex," which Showtime has renewed for a second season.

Lizzy Caplan as Virginia Johnson and Michael Sheen as Dr. William Masters in "Masters of Sex," which Showtime has renewed for a second season. (Craig Blankenhorn / Showtime)

Jessica Gelt

Showtime announced Tuesday that it is picking up new seasons of its hit shows "Homeland" and "Masters of Sex." The renewals will mean a fourth season for the former and a sophomore season for the latter.

Both shows will return in 2014 with 12 hourlong episodes, Showtime President David Nevins said. Currently, "Homeland" airs on Sunday night at 9 p.m. and "Masters of Sex" airs directly after at 10 p.m.

"'Homeland' continues to prove its strength for Showtime.... It has grown its audience significantly in each of its three seasons," Nevins said. “The critical and audience reaction to 'Masters of Sex' since its great launch has been incredibly gratifying.”

The numbers speak for themselves. "Homeland" is Showtime's No. 1 series with 6.5 million weekly viewers in season three (up 26% from season two).

"Masters of Sex," which chronicles the careers of and love lives of famed sex researchers William Masters and Virginia Johnson, came out of the gate strong, currently averaging 5.4 million weekly viewers (that's 33% more viewers than "Homeland" had during the same time period of its first season).

"Homeland" went on to win Emmy and Golden Globe awards for best television drama. It also won a Peabody Award, which recognizes excellence in radio or television regardless of a program's popular success.